Michael van Gerwen and Cor Dekker produced stunning nine-darters on a record-breaking day at the Hungarian Darts Trophy, as Gabriel Clemens defeated Luke Humphries on Day Two in Budapest.
Van Gerwen and Dekker made history with their heroics in Saturday’s second round at the MVM Dome, on a day which featured multiple nine-darters for the first time in European Tour history.
Dutch supremo Van Gerwen achieved the feat in the opening leg of his 6-2 victory against Martin Lukeman, before conjuring up 157 and 154 checkouts to triumph with a 104.52 average.
“I’m here to do something special. I think this crowd deserved it,” claimed Van Gerwen, fresh from winning his first ranking title of 2024 at Players Championship 21 on Wednesday.
“I really under-performed here last year, but the most important thing was to win this game with a solid performance.
“I think there’s still a lot more in the tank because I feel good, I feel sharp, and there’s a lot more to fight for tomorrow.”
Van Gerwen will renew his rivalry with Clemens in the last 16, after the German number two continued his resurgence with a thrilling last-leg victory against world number one Humphries.
Clemens defied a 101 average and five maximums from Humphries to prevail in a high-quality affair in the Hungarian capital, sealing his progress with a 14-dart break of throw in the decider.
The 41-year-old averaged 107 to defeat Van Gerwen at the Flanders Darts Trophy a fortnight ago, and he is hoping to repeat the feat when he takes on the three-time World Champion tomorrow afternoon.
“I’ve been playing really good darts in the last few weeks,” reflected Clemens, who is still battling to secure qualification for next month’s World Grand Prix.
“I know I can beat the top players, and at the moment, Luke is the best player in the world, so this fills me with confidence.”
Elsewhere, Dekker landed the day’s first nine-darter during his second round clash against Stephen Bunting, delivering the moment of magic in the penultimate leg of his 6-2 defeat.
The Norwegian celebrated his maiden European Tour victory on Friday, before etching his name into the history-books against Bunting, who ran out a convincing winner despite Dekker’s brilliance.
Reigning champion Dave Chisnall began his bid for back-to-back European Tour titles with a crushing 6-1 victory over Jonny Clayton, reeling off six consecutive legs to triumph with a 100.94 average.
Chisnall was joined in Sunday’s last 16 by second seed Ross Smith, who proved too strong for Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld, averaging 99.94 and pinning 60% of his attempts at double to wrap up a 6-2 victory.
Wessel Nijman reeled off four consecutive legs from 5-2 down to snatch victory over Gerwyn Price, following up a 13-darter with 141, 107 and 71 finishes to inflict another early European Tour exit on the Welshman.
Peter Wright maintained his fine form with a whitewash win over Damon Heta, capitalising on a below-par display from the Australian number one to canter through to round three in quick-fire fashion.
Birthday boy Rob Cross rounded off Saturday’s second round action with a 6-1 demolition of Andrew Gilding, crashing in four 180s to set up a third round showdown against sixth seed Josh Rock.
Rock denied James Wade in an astonishing contest, overturning a 5-2 deficit and surviving eight match darts to preserve his title hopes in Budapest.
Gian van Veen fired in six 180s during his 6-4 success against Keane Barry, recording the first ton-plus average of the tournament to set up a showdown against his compatriot Danny Noppert.
Fifth seed Noppert fended off a valiant fightback from the returning Nathan Aspinall to seal his progress, producing a brace of ton-plus finishes to race into a 5-1 lead, before eventually closing out a 6-4 victory.
Martin Schindler defied his doubling woes to prevail in a deciding-leg affair against Jim Williams, while Daryl Gurney and Ricardo Pietreczko registered 6-5 wins against Florian Hempel and Niels Zonneveld respectively.
Scott Williams punished a frustrated Chris Dobey to advance into the last 16, landing four maximums and converting 74, 80, 94 and 122 checkouts to cap off an impressive all-round display.
Earlier in the day, Ryan Searle ended Hungarian hopes with an emphatic 6-1 success against Alberto Bezjian, and his reward will be a clash against a rejuvenated Wright for a place in the quarter-finals.
The third round will take place on Sunday afternoon at the MVM Dome, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.
The tournament is being broadcast live on Viaplay, DAZN and PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers' websites worldwide.
Click here for match stats & results.
2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy
Saturday September 21
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Niels Zonneveld
Gian van Veen 6-4 Keane Barry
Ryan Searle 6-1 Alberto Bezjian
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Florian Hempel
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Cor Dekker
Scott Williams 6-4 Chris Dobey
Martin Schindler 6-5 Jim Williams
Josh Rock 6-5 James Wade
Evening Session
Danny Noppert 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Peter Wright 6-0 Damon Heta
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Jonny Clayton
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Ross Smith 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Gabriel Clemens 6-5 Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Martin Lukeman
Rob Cross 6-1 Andrew Gilding
Sunday September 22
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Dave Chisnall v Daryl Gurney
Peter Wright v Ryan Searle
Wessel Nijman v Scott Williams
Danny Noppert v Gian van Veen
Ross Smith v Ricardo Pietreczko
Stephen Bunting v Martin Schindler
Gabriel Clemens v Michael van Gerwen
Josh Rock v Rob Cross
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order